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UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

BENJAMIN E. eLEAsoN, 0E nEooKroEf'r, NEw YORK.

COOLING-"BOARD SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,950, dated April 12, 1881.

Application filed August 2B, 1879.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. GLEAsoN, Fof Brockport, in the county of Monroe and State of N ew York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Cooling-Boards 5 and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being mad to the accompanying drawings, in whiclil Figure l is a plan of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a Vbottom view of a portion, showing the legs and racks folded within the body of the apparatus-`` Fig. 4 is a longitudinal verti= cal section, showing the apparatus in complete folded form for storage or transportation. Figs. '5 and 6 are detail views.

My improvement relates to cooling-boards for holding corpses preparatory to burial; and it consistsin the construction and arrangement hereinafter described'.

In the drawings, A A are two sections, forining the table or support, said sections being hinged in the center, so that the table maybe extended, as shown in Fig. ],for receiving the corpse, or may be folded one over and covering the other, as shown in Fig. 4, for storage or transportation. The hinges consist of two straps, a a, on each side, having upwardly-projecting shoulders, a a', which, when the device is extended, strike together face to face and stiften the frame, -as shown in Fig. 2.' The top of the frame is covered with perforated veneer,

such as is ordinarilyused on chairs and settees, the same bein gvery thin, light, and strong, and allowing free ventilation through the holes.

B B aretwo pairs of legs, pivoted at b b, respectively, to the bottom of the two sections A A, and arranged to be extended downward to form the support to the apparatus, as shown in Fig. 2, or to be turned inward atwise against the bottom of the sections, asshown in Fig. 3. Each pair of these legs is connected by a cross-round, c, near the bottom.

C C are braces, hinged at d d to the crossrounds,tl1e opposite ends being provided with pins ff, which engage removably with lugs g g at the outer ends of the sectionsAA. When the apparatus is extended these braces stiffen and hold the legs 5 but when it is folded they lie flat on the bottom of the sections with the legs.

D D are two racks or standards connected, also, respectively, with the sections A A at the ends. Each rack consists of a cross-head, h, and two longitudinal parallel arms, These arms run through sockets at the ends of the sections, and when forced in, as shown in Fig. 3, they lie flat in the bottom `of the sections, while the cross-heads simply abut and lie close to the ends of the sections. When the racks are drawn fully out they can be turned up in vertical position, as shown in Fig, 2, therebyV forming supports for the shroud E.

To enable the racks to work properly the following arrangement is employed Gr Gr are castings at the ends of the sections A A, forming the sockets through which the arms ofthe racks run. Each of these castings has a plate, la, forming a guide, and this plate is slotted, the slot l being open at the inner end, but closed at the outer end, Fig. `5. 'Ihe ends of the arms t' tha-ve headed screws or pins m m.

When the rack is drawn out the screws or pins m nz strike into the open end ofthe slots Hand follow the same till they strike the closed outer ends. When they reach this point the rack is so far withdrawn thaty it is free to be turned into the upright position, the screws or pins forming the pivots. When the rack is lowered and pushed in again the screws or pins run out at the open inner ends of the slots, and the arms t i are then simply supported bythe sockets. End racks only are used, no side supports being necessary. The cross-heads ofthe racks have buttons or other attachments n n, and the shroud E has inner flaps, p p, provided with separate lines of eyelets, which hook over the buttons, thereby straightening the shroud and holding it in proper position.

I is a head-rest at the head of the table, and K is its shank.' The head-rest consists of a concave block properly padded and located on a horizontal stem, q, of the standard and secured by a nut, r. By this means the headrest may be inclined from one side to the other and set at any angle. The standard is provided with a set of ratchet-teeth,s, ou one side, andiruns down through a tube, t, attached on the under side of the table. u isa pawl, which engages with the ratchet and holds the headrest at any adjustment. The pawl allows the standard to be drawn up, but prevents it from IOO falling again. The pawl has a lever, 'al/,by which it is operated, and it is pressed out by a springgc, to hold it in engagement with the ratchet.

I am aware that cooling-boards having foldinglegs and adjustable racks for holding the shroud are known; but they are usually made in a single length, and the rack extends all around and rests on top of the board in its folded position, which makes the board cumbersome and inconvenient to handle. My invention differs from such. devices. in making the board in two sections, hinged in the middle, provided with folding legs and braces and sliding racks, the Whole so arrangedthat when folded the board is in compact form, as shown in Fig. 4, with the legs, braces, and racks inside, and with the two veneer surfaces forming the outside, by which the article can be .easily handled, packed, or transported.

. I claiml. In a cooling-board, the combination, with the hinged sections A A, of the racks D D at the ends of the sections passing through sockets G G and formingracks to support the shroud E, as shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

2. In a cooling-board, the co1nbination,with the racks D D at the ends of the sections A A, of the sockets G Gr, provided with the slotted plates 7c k, receiving the pins of the racks, as shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

In Wit-ness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. GLEASON.

Witnesses:

R. F. Oscoop, L. S. SMITH. 

